;

Uniform Review - 300,000+ Forms in Circulation

Criminal Records Bureau - Motivating MPs

On-Line Ordering - Information Centre eSHOP

Cub Scout Communicator Badge - BT Sponsorship

20th World Scout Jamboree - Thailand

POR - Amendments

Air Scouts - Diamond Jubilee

Treasurers - Helpful Publications

Management of Choice - Bargain Offer

St George's Day 2001

Administrators - Help them to help you

Beachwatch - Marine Conservation Society

Hospital & Special Groups - Workshops

Safety First - Overhead Powerlines

SCOPE Science Centre - Subsidised Visit?

Special Needs - New Factsheet

YHA Scout Offer - Bargain Breaks

Windsor Parade - Section Leaders Sought

Fame & Fortune - Road Safety Heroes Sought

Gilwell Tours - Extended Programme

Air Activities - Contact Kent

Tree Week 2000 - Trees of Time and Place

Training Courses - Try the Gilwell Experience

Sleepover - Report Form

International Camp Staff - The US Experience

Jet Petrol - Have You Got News For Us?

Committee News

The Association's Annual Report and Accounts

National Cost of Supporting Scouting:

Incoming Resources:

Scout Shops Limited:

Subsidiary companies:

Scout Services Limited:

Other Trading Activities:

The Association's Funds:

Child Protection Matters:

1999 Census:

Committee Chairmen:

Requests for copies of the Uniform Consultation Questionnaire have resulted in more than 300,000 Forms in circulation at the start of October. Just over 6,000 had been returned by the same date but more are coming in each day. Deadline for returns is 10 November. Contact the Information Centre if you need more copies.

Many Members will be aware that checks on volunteers look likely to cost The Scout Association an additional £750,000 each year when the proposed Criminal Records Bureau opens next year. Whilst we value efforts to increase child protection, we are active in our criticism that the Government's costs are being passed on as a stealth tax on volunteering. We have been working closely with many other voluntary organisations to press the Home Office to rescind its proposal that volunteers be charged in this way. Letters and briefing information have been sent to all District and Area/County Commissioners asking them to make personal contact with their relevant MPs to discuss the issue which is likely to have a significant financial impact on us all.

The Information Centre catalogue has been available electronically since 1998 and is continually being developed. The latest stage in this process has been the launch of an e-commerce site that enables people to order goods on-line as well as the ability to download factsheets without charge. It uses a secure server for the processing of credit card transactions. This is now available for everyone to use via ScoutBase UK. Simply click on the icon at the top left hand corner of the homepage www.scoutbase.org.uk.

BT is sponsoring the Cub Scout Communicator badge for two years, with the aim of helping young people understand the importance of communication. To gain it, Cub Scouts will have to learn and demonstrate a number of skills, including using a public telephone, asking and understanding instructions and taking a telephone message correctly. They will also have the new option of gaining the Advanced Communicator Certificate.

Planning has started for the UK Contingent to this event which runs from 28 December 2002 to 8 January 2003. The theme will be "Share our World, Share our Cultures". Initial information has been sent to Areas/Counties. Contact Lisa Portman, Jamboree Manager, Gilwell Park for further details.

There have been further amendments to Policy Organisation and Rules which are effective immediately. A consolidated version of POR containing all amendments is available from the ScoutBase UK website (www.scoutbase.org.uk). Details have also been published in SCOUTING Magazine and are also available on request from the Information Centre.

Rules which have been amended include:-

Rule 3.3 Members

Rule 14 Innovative and Experimental Methods

Rule 45.4 Compliance with Rules

Rule 43.10 Chain Saws/Tree Felling

Rule 8.5 Integrated Sections

Rule 17 Age Limits for Appointments in the Scout Group

Rule 22 Age Limits for Appointments in the Scout District

Rule 26 Age Limits for Appointments in the Scout County

Leaders and administrators are particularly reminded that when completing the Adult Appointment Application Form (Form AA) all sections must be completed together with the appropriate signatures before a Warrant can be issued by Headquarters. For the appointment of Assistant District Commissioners this requires the signatures of both the District and County Commissioner. Incomplete forms may result in a delay in the Warrant being issued.

Sixty years of Air Scouting will be marked with a Diamond Jubilee Camp in Pembrokeshire starting on 26 May 2001. Further details from Cliff Beck 020 8979 2731 or email cliff@molsey.freeserve.co.uk

The Association has some copies of the following four Charity Commission publications which could be useful for new Treasurers, or for a District or County running a refresher course. They are:-

Charity Accounts - charities under the £10,000 threshold (£1)

Accounting for the smaller charity (on the receipts and payments basis) (£1)

Accruals accounting for the smaller charity (£1)

Accounting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice. (The SORP) (£2).

The prices shown include postage and packing for individual copies. A set of four costs £5. For larger orders please contact the Information Centre.

"Management of Choice 2" the programme support material for the Scout Section is available at a special price of £19.99 from the Information Centre. This is a considerable saving. Please quote reference MGC2 when ordering from the Information Centre.

Our Patron, HM The Queen has kindly given permission for the Parade of Queen's Scouts to take place in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle and the National Scout Service to take place in St George's Chapel on 22 April, 2001.

A set of four booklets has been published to support the non-uniformed members of Executive Committees. There is one for each of the principal administrator roles of Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, together with a booklet that deals with the wide range of other roles fulfilled by administrators (Committee Member, Quartermaster, Public Relations Officer, etc.). They are designed to help newcomers get started and point them in the right direction in the first few weeks and months. While the booklets have been written from the perspective of an administrator in a Scout Group, much of the content is also relevant to administrators in Districts, Areas and Counties. Copies cost £2.50 each from the Scout Information Centre.

Beachwatch is a great way to get people of Scout Section age or older actively working to protect their environment. It involves visiting and collecting data from a beach using visual assessment based on Environment Agency guidelines. Adopt-a-Beach is a similar event to Beachwatch with surveys being carried out four times a year. For further information on both activities and the Marine Conservation Society see www.mcsuk.org or contact Amy Hicks (01989 762064).

Three more Workshops are to be run to support those working with young people with Special Needs within Hospital and Special Groups. The dates and venues are: 20 January 2001, London; 10 February 2001, Glasgow; 17 March 2001, Bristol. The cost of the day will be £20 with overnight accommodation available if required. If you are interested and have not already received an invitation letter with full details, please contact Jackie Martin, Special Needs Office, Programme & Development Department or email: jackie.martin@scout.org.uk

Dr Alan Copson, Headquarters Health & Safety Adviser has issued the following advice to all Leaders.

There have been one or two incidents where Scouting activities such as the erection of a radio mast have resulted in contact overhead power lines. In another incident a portable lighting gantry was erected and then towed behind a vehicle and hit an overhead 11Kv power supply line.

Actual contact with an overhead line is not always necessary before injury is caused. High voltages can flash across air gaps and cause electric shock and/or burns.

Other activities near power lines which involve flying, paragliding, model aircraft, balloons, flag or tent poles, ladders, scaffolding, fishing rods/poles, and tree felling all present potential danger.

The first and main advice is LOOK OUT, LOOK UP. Electric pylons and poles are static and visible but the cables are often difficult to see particularly if set against a dark background. Before commencing any activity stop and check:-

• Are there any overhead power lines in the vicinity?
• Are the lines situated where you intend to work or carry out an activity?

If the overhead lines run through Scout property - such as a campsite - mark them on local information and make visitors/campers aware of their presence. Advise them to take this permanent 'hazard' into account and its effect on any of their activities on the campsite. Consider spelling out some of the activities that carry a risk of electrocution in the campsite literature.

The Cub Scout Office has a small amount of funding still available, up to a maximum of £50 per visit, to support visits by Cub Scout Packs, Districts and Counties in the Sheffield area to the SCOPE Science Centre. Following a visit to the "hands on" activity centre, there is a science activity kit which can be borrowed for a limited time to continue developing the Cub Scouts' interest and knowledge of science and for the Scientist Activity badge. Applications for funding should be submitted with receipts to The Cub Scout Office, P & D Dept, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, London E4 7QW. This offer is only available while the funding lasts so First Come, First Served!

A new factsheet, 'Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD or ADD), No. FS322100 and costing 28p. is now available from the Information Centre. This in response to an increasing demand for information on this condition over recent years.

Between the beginning of September 2000 and the end of March 2001 more than 20 Youth Hostels in England and Wales will be offering Scout Association Groups two nights accommodation for just £10.

What's more, three city locations, Manchester, Liverpool, and York, will be offering groups 2 nights Bed and Breakfast for £16.40. As YHA Membership is available to Scout Groups in England and Wales free of charge, it's a great time to get out and about. To find out more about these great offers or for a membership application form please contact Jane Lambert, YHA Groups Advisor - Youth and Special Interest Organisations on 01303 246621 or email: janelambert@yha.org.uk

The Association needs 6 to 8 new additional Section Leaders for next year's Parade. If you are a Queen's Scout, have a sense of humour, and are aged between 20 and 35 then read on ......

You will be need to be smart, with full uniform, have a clear voice, be able to march (or willing to learn) and able to relate/communicate with people of Venture Scout age. You must be available for the weekends of 31 March/1 April and 21/22 April 2001.

If selected, you may be asked to be a Section Leader for up to 5 years from your first Parade - though the invitations to Section Leaders are re-issued annually. Section Leaders receive no expenses, so travel and other costs must be met by yourself. Apart from all the small print above, the most important point is that it is great fun!!

STILL INTERESTED? Then turn up in uniform for either of the selection events: 6 January, at Leicestershire County Scout Centre, Winchester Road, Blaby Leicestershire or 13 January 2001, at Gilwell Park. In order to get the full details for either event, please contact Peter Rogers at Gilwell Park. (peter.rogers@scout.org.uk or (020) 8498 5300)

Jet, sponsor of the Cub Scout Road Safety badge has launched the Jet Smile Awards for Road Safety - and is appealing to you for entries. The awards are open to any individual or organisation that has demonstrated a commitment to road safety in their local area - a Scout, lollipop person, your entire Section or Group, a charity, friend or relative. Five regional finalists will each receive £1,000 plus another £1,000 for a local charity of their choice. The overall winner will receive £2,500 plus a further £2,500 for their chosen charity. Entry forms are available from Jet Service stations or you can enter directly via www.jet-petrol.co.uk.

Over the last summer some 300 people took part in the official Gilwell Tour. The success of this tour programme has meant we are now in a position to extend these to the winter 2000 season and the spring/summer 2001 season.

Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes and covers the history of the White House, Training Ground and the Camp Site. The tour is conducted by a retired Scout Leader and current London Blue Tour Guide who has been given direct access to The Scout Association archives to research the tour programme.

If you are interested and can get together a minimum party of twelve people then please contact the Scout Information Centre to arrange a mutually convenient date. Please contact us at least a month in advance. Tours cost £7.00 for adults and £4.00 for children.

Kent Air Activities now have their own airfield specifically for Parascending and Paragliding with winch and vehicle tow courses available. During winter 2000/01 they are offering 1 day Air Activity Courses for the Airman's Badge which includes one Parascending flight - one air experience flight and theory of flight and aviation law sessions. £15 including refreshments. They also offer Weekend Parascending Badge Courses at £30 per person with bunkhouse or camping accommodation. Contact Barrie Clarke Tel: 01622 728230.

With the seed gathering season upon us, Scouts are putting their green fingers to good use by collecting seeds and planting trees. This work will contribute towards their Trees of Time and Place Scout Forester badge.

Trees of Time and Place (www.totap.org.uk) is a national initiative which is encouraging millions of people to gather seeds, sow them and plant seedling trees to celebrate the new millennium. The campaign joined forces with The Scout Association in October 1999 to launch the Forester badge which aims to teach Scouts how to identify trees, protect forests and get to grips with the woodland cycle.

This year's seed gathering season will be launched with Seed Quest 2000 (October 1-8) and tree planting, including an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for tree planting, will be taking place throughout Tree Week 2000 (22 November - 3 December). For more information on how to get involved in events in your local area, call the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.

Enclosed with this edition of Talking Points you should find a leaflet setting out the Training Course Programme for the year 2001 at Gilwell Park. Further information from Training Records Office at Gilwell Park.

If District Commissioners choose to visit Sleepovers they may use the existing Form CR - Camp/ Pack Holiday/ Family Camp Visit Report Form to record their observations during the visit. The form will be amended and reprinted to include Sleepovers when stocks of the present Form are exhausted.

Are you interested in a fantastic opportunity to work at a Boy Scouts of America camp for at least 6 weeks next summer? Get a minimum of $400 salary, experience American Scouting, share your Scouting skills and make friends for life! Contact the International Team at Gilwell Park.

Jet wishes to hear from any Adult leaders who have completed (since June 2000) or who are working with Cub Scouts to achieve the 'Jet Cub Scout Road Safety Badge'. Jet will work on your behalf to promote your activities in your local press. Please contact joannah@keycommunications.co.uk.

The following are highlights from The Association's Annual Report & Accounts adopted by the Council of the Association on 23 September 2000. The full text is available on www.scoutbase.org.uk.

The Committee addressed the deficit in the annual revenue budget in order to avoid entering the second year (2000/2001) of the three-year rolling budget with another deficit. The staff establishment was reduced by about 20 per cent. The Field Commissioner and Development Officer teams were closed and a new Field Development Service created in England. Overall the Committee agreed measures that will result in a saving of over £1 million on the revenue budget for the financial year 2000/2001.

The total incoming resources for the year declined for the second year in succession to £10.38 million, a decrease of £360,000 over 1999, falling to the levels achieved in 1997. Membership income grew by £155,000 to £4.78 million, reflecting the impact of the increased subscription rate, offset by the further decline in membership numbers.

Turnover declined by just under 6% to £13.24 million, with sales of Scout merchandise, and in particular uniform sales, falling by over £250,000. Trading conditions in the UK retail sector were particularly difficult during 1999, continuing the trend started in 1998, and resulting in an operating loss of £112,000, before a tax credit and refund of part of the prior year covenant payment to the Association.

Registered a sharp fall in net income from £686,000 to £71,000. This represents the sum total of the results of Scout Shops Limited, Scout Insurance (Guernsey) Limited and Scout Services Limited.

Scout Services continued to generate further badge sponsorship, though as with Scout Shops it found difficult trading conditions also applied in this sector. Companies signed up in the year included Savlon and Esso, while promotions were launched with Britannia Building Society and with the sale of special limited edition phone cards and millennium time-capsules. Legoland launched their Cub Scout Craftsman badge to coincide with the opening of the park itself and several other badges were launched in the year at special events. In the year the company passed £82,000 in profit to the Association by Deed of Covenant.

Other Trading Activities income of £2.75 million arose from the charitable trading operations at Baden-Powell House Hostel, Gilwell Park Conference Centre, Hawkhirst Adventure Centre, Information Centre, National Camp Site and SCOUTING Magazine.

Despite a difficult financial year, culminating in a net deficit in Incoming Resources and a net cash outflow, the Association's reserves grew by £2.51 million to £33.31 million. This was due exclusively to the appreciation in the value of the Association's investments at 31st March 2000. After excluding funds locked into Fixed Assets (£9.27 million), Restricted and Endowment Funds (£6.06 million) and funds retained in Subsidiaries (£674,000), the Association's unencumbered funds amount to £17.30 million, of which £10.10 million has been set aside into Designated Funds for future calls on the Association's finances, including costs leading up to the 2007 Jamboree, modernisation of the Gilwell National Campsite facilities and co-location of certain Headquarters departments. For the second year in succession the Association experienced a net cash outflow of over £1 million. The continuing development programme at Gilwell should see this trend continue in the short term.

The Association joined the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Full Stop Campaign - Party for Children. We were already working with the NSPCC in other related areas such as lobbying on the proposed costs of the Criminal Records Bureau. The Committee confirmed that if charges were introduced then the cost - presently estimated at £750,000 per annum - will have to be borne centrally by Headquarters and its impact will then have to be spread across the whole of the membership. Consequent upon the publication of the Home Office guidelines on the relationship of trust between adults and young people, minor amendments were made to the Association's Child Protection Policy and a second edition of the Young People First Code of Behaviour [the yellow card] was issued.

The total Membership for the year ended 31 March 2000 was 526,747. The corresponding figure for 1999 was 554,440. Section membership is:- Beaver Scouts 116,333; Cub Scouts 171,174; Scouts 117,429, Venture Scouts 20,550. There were 9,160 Scout Groups.

At a meeting of the Committee of the Council held immediately after the AGM the following were elected as Chairmen for the year:-